FATAH CHIEF SEEKS ALLIANCE WITH HAMAS

Middle East Newsline

January 26, 2005

JERUSALEM [MENL] -- The new chief of the ruling Fatah movement has sought analliance with Hamas in an effort to pressure the new Palestinian leadership. A report by an Israeli think tank asserted that Fatah chief FaroukKhaddoumi has been preparing to establish an alliance against thePalestinian Authority. The report said the alliance would include Hamas andIslamic Jihad.